CANVAS

College Autism Network Virtual Association of Scholars

The College Autism Network Virtual Association of Scholars (CANVAS) invites individuals from around the world, who conduct research on and/or work with postsecondary students with autism, to communicate and collaborate with one another. Established in February 2018, CANVAS extends the work of the College Autism Network to a global level, welcoming faculty, researchers, student affairs practitioners, students, and others to capitalize on their talents and work toward making college more accessible, inclusive, and rewarding for students with autism. 

To join a live meeting, please email Brett Nachman (bnachman@wisc.edu) or join the CANVAS listserv to get detailed reminders about upcoming meetings. 

 

Upcoming Meetings & Presenters

2021

  • Friday, July 9 at 11 a.m. – Dr. Amelia Anderson (Assistant Professor of Library & Information Studies Darden College of Education and Professional Studies; Old Dominion University) – The Intersection of Libraries and Autism – Libraries are a comfortable place for many, and this can be especially true for autistic patrons who may appreciate the library’s organization, structure, clear policies, quiet spaces (and loud spaces!), and opportunities to “geek out” around specific interests. Many autistic adults have also found careers in librarianship, from shelving books to working in upper administration. This talk describes the many intersections of libraries and autism that Dr. Anderson has explored over nearly a decade of work.
  • Friday, August 13 at 2 p.m. – Dr. Jane McLeod (Associate Executive Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, and Provost Professor of Sociology; Indiana University) – College and Beyond for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum – This presentation will describe the background, motivations, and (to the extent possible) preliminary results from the first wave of a panel study of educational, occupational, and health trajectories for college students with and without a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. Data were collected from students at 10 post-secondary institutions in Indiana, in March 2021, through an online survey.
  • Friday, September 17 at 2 p.m. – Dr. TC Waisman (Doctor of Innovation at Autism Training Academy) – How higher education leaders, faculty, and staff can enhance services and outcomes for Autistic students – Autistic students in higher education often encounter systemic barriers in their educational careers that affect their outcomes. By focusing on policies and everyday practices that create or sustain barriers to positive outcomes for Autistic students, this talk turns the gaze on leaders, faculty, and staff to determine how they can dismantle existing barriers and create strategic supports that give Autistic students in higher education stronger outcomes. 
  • Friday, October 15 at 11 a.m. – Dr. Hyejung Kim (Binghamton University) – More details to follow
  • Friday, November 19 at 1 p.m. – Dr. Mary Baker-Ericzén (San Diego State University) – More details to follow

Past Meeting Minutes & Author Presentations

2021

May

  • Dr. Jess Monahan (Research Manager, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware), Cherie Fishbaugh (Director of Autism Services; West Chester University), & Laurie Ackles (Director, Spectrum Support Program; RIT) – Uniderstanding Autistic College Students’ Needs in the Times of COVID-19
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

April

  • Dr. Jess Monahan (Research Manager, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware) and Dr. Brian Freedman (Associate Director, Center for Students with Disabilities & Director, Spectrum Scholars; University of Delaware) – Social Skills Interventions for Young Adults: Fitting into a Neurotypical World?
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

March

February

  • Dr. Laura Graham Holmes (Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate; Boston University) & Dr. Emily Rothman (Professor, Community Health Sciences; Boston University) – Using Formative Research to Develop HEARTS: A Healthy Relationships Promoting Intervention for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

January

  • Courtney Butler (Program Coordinator, College Support Program; Rutgers University) – An Individualized Approach to Teaching Adults with Autism to Successfully Navigate Job Interviews via Remote Instruction
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

2020

November

  • Cheryl Widman (University of Illinois at Chicago) discussed “Understanding Parent Participation in the Postsecondary Education of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder”
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

October

September

  • Jonathan Vincent (York St. John University) discussed “Transitions from higher education for autistic students and graduates: qualitative insights from the UK context“
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

August

  • Eilidh Cage (University of Stirling) and Jack Howes (Autistic Writer and Fundraiser) discussed “Dropping out: Understanding the university experiences of autistic students who could not complete their studies.”
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

July

  • Alexandra Sturm (Loyola Marymount University) discussed her recently-published journal article: “Academic and Psychosocial Characteristics of Incoming College Freshmen with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Comorbidity and Gender”

May

April

  • Presenter: Sean LaRoque (Mansfield Hall)
  • Topical Focus: Measuring autistic college students’ journeys to adulthood using the Pathway to Independence Inventory: Development, results and lessons learned at Mansfield Hall – a residential college support program for students with learning differences.
  • Meeting Minutes

March

  • Presenters: Jodi Duke and Grace Francis (George Mason University) 
  • Topical Focus: Research on autistic college students and co-occurring mental health disorder; discussions on the impact of needs and coping strategies.
  • Meeting Minutes

February

  • Featured Presenter: Amy Radochonski (College Living Experience)
  • Topical Focus: “Crosswalks” between postsecondary education institutions and independent autism programs
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Recorded Presentation Video

January

  • Featured presenter: Brad Cox (Florida State University | College Autism Network)
  • Meeting Minutes

2019

November

October

  • Meeting Minutes
  • Featured presenter: Kimberly Ha (Organization for Autism Research)

September

  • Meeting Minutes
  • Featured presenter: Fred Volkmar (Yale University | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)

August

  • Meeting Minutes
  • Featured presenter: Valérie Van Hees (Artevelde University College Ghent)

July

May

April

March

February

January

 

2018

November

October

September

August

 

Ways to become involved:

  1. Check out the minutes, presentations, and articles from previous monthly meetings (see links on this page).
  2. Click here to sign up for our autism/higher ed list serv (here where we share news articles, research, events, and other content related to college students with autism). Click “join group” to start receiving emails.
  3. Once you’ve joined the listserv, you can share articles, presentations, and other news by sending an email to: can-canvas@collegeautismnetwork.org
  4. Contact Brett Ranon Nachman (bnachman@wisc.edu) to get updates about upcoming CANVAS meetings.
  5. Visit our CANVAS Google Drive (here we share our meeting agendas, minutes, and other CANVAS content; you can even post a profile about yourself and your work)

    Questions about CANVAS?